Principal's Message

Ian Margetts

Acting Principal

To the St Mary’s Community

St Mary’s Day was held last week and it was great to celebrate it with staff, students, parents and broader members of the St Mary’s Catholic College community.  In my opening remarks I welcomed the entire community as St Mary’s Day is a day;

• For parents - they are our most important partners in their child’s secondary education
• For teachers, trainers and diverse learning officers - they inspire students to learn and be all they can be
• For the grounds, maintenance, cleaning staff - they make it a place where staff and students want to be
• For administration and finance staff - they keep the essential behind the scenes work happening
• For the students, they are why everyone does what they do

I also acknowledged that St Mary’s Day is not just about what roles we play as members of the St Mary’s community but how we go about it.  Our community aspires to the values of Mary. In just the short time I have been here I have witnessed a community that demonstrates resilience, trust, a faith filled sprit, a caring community, as well as one that is hard working but humble, willing, and courageous.

During St Mary’s Day, we also acknowledged those who have given significant service to the College. There were several Student Service Award and long-standing staff were acknowledged. These staff included:

• 20 years - Leanne Barton (working casually) & Nadia Sabbadin (recently retired)
• 30 years - Manuela Henwood, Margaret Marton & Erin Purdy

Finally, we acknowledged Ms Danielle Tibbs with the Jean Hay volunteer award for her contribution in the Canteen over several years.

It has been another busy month at St Mary’s with events that included;

• Organising and hosting the North Queensland Cross Country Championships (13/9)
• RUOK Day student and staff activities (week commencing 6/9)
• Hosting the Yr 7-12 SMCC League 7s Gala Day (10/9)
• Yr7-10 Hockey Gala Day (9/9)
• 11SAR Hiking Expedition (2/9)
• NAIDOC Week (commencing 30/8)

The opportunities for students continue to flow in Term 4 with key events including:

• 8/10    Year 12 Graduation Dinner
• 9/10    Arts Open Evening
• 18/10  Yr 10 Retreat week (2 groups) commence
• 22/10  Yr 12 External Exams commence
• 26/10 Yr 8 Camp commences
• 9/11    Presentation Evening
• 17/11 Graduation Mass

St Mary’s is certainly a rich and vibrant community and the above lists, which are certainly not exhaustive lists, are a testament to the dedicated staff that provide these opportunities as well as the students who take on these experiences.

On Wednesday, I had the privilege of announce the 2022 House Captains and College Prefects, another great opportunity for students.  These leaders are as follows:

HOUSE CAPTAINS

COLLEGE PREFECTS

The above students will join College Captains, Nicholas Adriaans and Hannah Sawyer, as the appointed student leaders for 2022.  In congratulating these students, we also acknowledge that all our Year 12, 2022 students are leaders in our College community and the more they work together the more they will have a memorable and successful 2022 graduating year.

After a term filled with opportunity, but also its challenges, our thoughts and prayers are with the College community for a safe and restful holiday period. 

We thank you Lord, for this term.

For our challenges, our successes,

and the mistakes from which we have learnt.

Be with us as we spend our time with family and friends.

Give us strength and courage to do what is right: to be witnesses of our faith.

Help us to be a practical Christian these holidays, 

to appreciate what others do for us, 

to give time and effort to help others.

To be peacemakers in our family.

Keep us safe in our activities; 

give us good rest and good fun.

Bring us back refreshed and ready for a new term. 

We thank you for our classmates, teachers, parents 

and a community that cares for us.

May we always be conscious of you in our lives.

Amen